Malacañang claims documentary evidence on questionable MRT 3 deal

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has documentary evidence on who benefited from the MRT 3 maintenance deal during the last administration.

Presidential Spokesman Secretary Harry Roque said two whistleblowers approached him claiming that the budget for the maintenance contract was divided into several parts.

One third of the fund allegedly went to a certain Pangilinan group, another part for political machinery while the remaining one third was used for MRT maintenance.

Roque said he will submit the evidence to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Aside from this, the secretary also promised to expose the information he has received on the alleged anomalous maintenance contract of the past administration with Busan Universal Rail (BURI) in the coming weeks.

“I have some documentary evidence already. Perhaps beginning next week I will devote one day a week in disclosing facts and details about the plunder of MRT 3,” he said.

Meanwhile, Roque denied that one of the whistleblowers who approached him was former MRT general manager Al Vitangcol.

The official is also hoping that the Office of the Ombudsman is already doing its parallel investigation since plunder and graft complaints had been formally filed against several past administration officials last year. — Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue